While the 93rd Oscars are not supposed to happen until February 28th, 2021, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is taking into consideration that the show may have to cancelled altogether.
According to Variety, multiple anonymous sources, say that while there are no concrete plans in place, the option is under serious consideration. “It’s likely they’ll be postponed,” one of the sources familiar with the matter told Variety.
When new temporary rule changes for Oscar eligibility were announced in April because of COVID-19, The new rule changes also included allowing Oscar-qualifying theatrical runs to take place in New York, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta and the Bay Area, instead of just in Los Angeles.
At the time, Academy president David Rubin told Variety it was too soon to know how the 2021 Oscar telecast could change in the wake of the pandemic.
However many eyes are on July when Warner Bros‘ Tenet is scheduled to be released. As things stand, the Christoper Nolan film is still set to hit theaters on July 17th. However, there’s still a good possibility it will get delayed if theater owners don’t feel safe enough to reopen. If that does happen, it will have a domino effect not just on Warner Bros. films but other tentpole films, too.
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Here’s the math according to Deadline – WB will require at least 80% of the world’s theaters to be open, including those in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. This would allow Nolan’s sci-fi thriller to release in 3,500 domestic theaters and over 30,000 screens worldwide.
If that doesn’t happen, Tenet will move to Wonder Woman 1984‘s August 14th spot, pushing Patty Jenkins’ DC Comics sequel to an undisclosed date in December.
It basically comes down to no films in theaters, means no films to award, even if the Academy currently considers digitally released films.
It’s unclear if postponing the Oscars will also mean that the Academy will allow films released after the year-end deadline to qualify for the 2022 Oscars.
The telecast is currently set for Feb. 28, 2021, on ABC.
SOURCE: Variety
